Tupelo Council rejects appeal for Sprint Mart sign

TUPELO – The City Council denied an appeal to allow an 80-foot billboard to advertise a Eason Boulevard gas station off U.S. Highway 45.
The council voted 6-1 Tuesday to uphold the planning committee’s recommendation to deny Victory Energy’s request for a 400-foot billboard, 80-feet tall to advertise its Sprint Mart, which is moving into a vacant travel center next door and growing to include a Huddle House restaurant.
Highway district sign guidelines – adopted after the council approved a 130-foot sign for Love’s Travel Center off U.S. Highway 78 – allow for a 400-foot billboard at 35 feet tall or 265-foot sign that is 71 feet tall based on the grade of the highway at the location.
Victory Energy was willing to forgo two other signs to have the larger sign. It now plans to go forward with three signs, said Scott Pridmore of Mid-South Signs.